Broncos vs. Colts: Live updates and highlights from NFL Week 5
Russell Wilson and the Broncos look to bounce back from their 32-23 loss to the Raiders in Vegas. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Colts at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates
Pregame updates
Scouting report (3 p.m.): How do the Broncos and the Colts matchup? Check out Kyle Newman’s analysis of the two teams.
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Mark Kiszla, columnist: Broncos 20, Colts 16
If Denver can’t beat Indianapolis without star running back Jonathan Taylor, who makes the Colts go, we can stop talking about the NFL playoffs and start talking about how big a mistake it was to hire Nathaniel Hackett as coach.
Kyle Newman, beat writer: Broncos 14, Colts 13
Indianapolis comes into Denver on a short week, without their best offensive player (tailback Jonathan Taylor) and their best defensive player (middle linebacker Shaquille Leonard). If the Broncos can’t pull this one out, there’s no hope for them to contend within the AFC West this season or even sniff a wild card spot in the second half of ’22.
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 23, Colts 20
Matt Ryan’s been turnover prone in his first season with the Colts, but Denver’s depth on the edge took a hit with OLB Randy Gregory headed to short-term injured reserve. Even still, the Broncos have enough up front to make life difficult for Ryan and the Indy offense. Is it too much to ask for a consistent performance from the Broncos’ offense? On a short week without Javonte Williams, perhaps it is. A short field or two certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 17, Colts 16
Nathaniel Hackett’s Packers were 7-1 on short rest from 2019-21, while the Broncos went 1-6 in those same circumstances over the last three years under Vic Fangio. The difference? Matt Ryan’s QB rating on the road this season (63.9) is more than 40 points lower than his home clip (107.8). Broncos Country makes enough noise to make the difference late.
Broncos-Colts NFL Week 5: Must reads
Can Melvin Gordon “carry the load” for Broncos in midst of career-worst stretch?
Football is full of stories. About redemption. About villains. Heroes. Rises and falls.
Rarely, though, does one person end up at the center of all those arcs all at once.
Melvin Gordon just might when the Broncos host Indianapolis on Thursday night at Empower Field.
The embattled Denver running back is fumbling at an alarming rate. He first lost playing time due to his fumbling, and then, when he finally got into Sunday’s game at Las Vegas, he lost the ball the first time he touched it, resulting in a momentum-swinging scoop-and-score for the Raiders in their 32-23 victory. Read more… — Parker Gabriel
Broncos “right in striking distance” as season’s quarter pole arrives
As Week 5 begins, 13 of 16 AFC teams sport records at or below .500. That includes the 2-2 Broncos and fellow AFC West foes Las Vegas (1-3) and the Chargers (2-2). “Every game has a history of its own,” Denver quarterback Russell Wilson said this week. “You can worry about a lot of things that are ahead, but what I know is there’s a lot of teams that are 2-2, a handful of teams that are 3-1. We’re right in striking distance. We’ve got them right where we want them. We’ve got to go get it.”
Check out 10 more things about the Broncos entering Thursday night’s game against Indianapolis. Read more… — Parker Gabriel
Randy Gregory down, Baron Browning up: Broncos have high expectations for second-year pro making first NFL start at edge rusher vs. Colts
The bad news: With Randy Gregory on injured reserve with a knee injury, the Broncos are without one of their dynamic edge rushers for at least a month.
The silver lining: The Broncos have a young but raw playmaker-in-waiting behind Gregory in Baron Browning, whom the team believes is capable of becoming a consistent disruptor. All Browning needs is reps to develop.
It’ll be Chubb and Browning off the edges, with help from rookie Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and potentially Jonathan Kongbo as a game-day practice squad elevation. Bonitto has only played 16 defensive snaps in two games this year, and the second-round pick out of Oklahoma has one tackle and zero sacks. Read more… — Kyle Newman
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